Improvement in cigarette-formers



A. B. SHAW.

CIGARETTE FORMER. No. 174,863. 7 Patented March 14, 1876.

. 1N\/EN U R B msAw s NVPETERS, PNOTO-LITHQGRAPNER. WASHINGTON, D C.

UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFIGE.

AI R. SHAW, 0F MEDFORD, AssicNoR To MARTIN w. CARE AND HIRAM W. BRooKs, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN ClGARETTE-FORMERS.

Specification forming part of LettersPatent No. 174,863, dated March 14, 1876 application filed- February 25, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, AI B. SHAW, of Medford, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Gigarette-Formers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, ref erence being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the'letters of reference marked thereon.

The object of this invention is to furnish a handy article, such as can be carried in the pocket, for making cigarettes. I am aware that this is not the first attempt to produce a cigarette-former, and the object is to produce a former which shall be more useful and convenient than those heretofore made.

The nature of my invention in detail is fully described below.

In the accompanying illustration, Figure 1 is a perspective viewof my device in the position assumed immediately before the tobacco is placed inside. Fig. 2 is a sectional view in the position assumed while the tobacco is being rolled into shape by drawing the ribbon.

1 Fig. 3 is a sectional view when the wrapper has just been inserted.

Similar letters-of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The body of this ciga-rette-iormer is made in two parts, a. and a, which are hinged to each other at c. The two parts a a, when closed, form nearly a true circle. The edges IL hat the mouth of the former are made thick and round, so that the ribbon may pass easily over. b b are rods or bars, so placed as to allow the ribbon to pass between them and the formers at a, to which they are fixed.

It will be noticed that no rollers are found in connection with this former.

d is a straight ribbon, passing under the bars I) b, and having metallic rods 0 e in the ends, for the purpose of keeping the ribbon d smooth and even, and also to prevent its coming out from under the bars b b.

In practical operation, my device is operated as follows: To manufacture a cigarette, place the tobacco in the ribbon after said ribbon has been placed in the position shown in Fig. 1. Close the former, and, keeping itclosed with one hand, draw the ribbon at with the other, as in Fig. 2. This puts the tobacco into shape. Then insert the edge of the wrapper 9 into the former, pointing said wrapper toward the part a, as in Fig. 3, of the former, and draw the ribbon backthat is, toward the right in the drawing-holding the former together with the other hand, and the cigarette will be complete.

By providing the straight ribbon instead of an endless ribbon the use of a roller and an apron is saved, and the cigarette is more perfectly formed. The tobacco is not liable to jump out, and a smaller or larger cigarette can be made at will, and the former will do the work of wrapping and forming it perfectly in either case. This cannot be accomplished with 'an endless ribbon.

The ends of the former constructed so as to twist the ends of the cigarette are not original with me, and are not claimed as. a part of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

Thecombination of the former a a, provided with the thick edges h, and bars 12 b, and

the straight ribbon 01, having rods 0 e inserted,

all substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

AI B. SHAW.

Witnesses:

HENRY W. WILLIAMs, J. H. GATELY. 

